“The fact that you’re doing business at eight in the morning on a Saturday,” I replied, motioning to his phone. “Plus, you keep checking the news channel in the corner like your life depends on it. You obviously care about your business.”
A flicker of a smile touched his face. “Is that so?”
“Besides, everyone has a reason for the work they’re in,” I quoted back to him, accent and all.
He took a sip of coffee to hide the small smile I had earned. “It was my father’s company. My family expects me to do it. It’s our family tradition, but even then, I couldn’t let anyone else run it.”
“So we’re both in our line of work because of family,” I said with a smile. We had something in common. “I love my work. Do you enjoy yours?”
He frowned. “It’s my life.”
“Okay,” I replied after a moment. So much for making a connection. I looked over at the coffee counter to see they were still working on our order. No coffee yet. “So, what else do you do?
“What do you mean?” he asked with a frown.
“What hobbies do you have?” I asked. “I personally like to go dancing. I like going to Jane’s art shows and my sister’s off-Broadway plays. And I mean, really really off-Broadway plays.”
He nodded. “I go flying with Charles,” he replied.
“You own an airline and flying is your fun?” I asked. If that wasn’t a workaholic, then I wasn’t sure what else qualified.
“I don’t have time for other distractions,” he informed me. “My business comes first. Excuse me. I need to reply to this email. It’s my COO.”
“COO?”
“Chief Operations Officer,” he replied. “My aunt Catherine runs the day-to-day. She has for years.”
And he picked up his phone and quickly typed something in, completely ignoring me.
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure quite how to reply to that. I folded my hands in my lap, unsure of what to say next. Apparently, we didn’t have as much in common as I thought.
“Your coffee is ready, by the way,” he informed me, not looking up from his phone. I looked over to see the barista setting three cups out on the counter.
“Oh, thank you,” I told him, rising from my chair.
“You’re welcome to stay longer if you’d
like,” he said, looking up and locking me in the blue tractor beam of his gaze.
I wasn’t sure what to think of that. Now he was polite? After the things he said last night? We were having a nice conversation, but it wasn’t exactly riveting.
“Um, thanks,” I replied. “But I really should get this coffee up to my sister.”
“Of course. She must have a hangover,” he said with a small nod before going back to his phone.
I shook my head a little before putting my hand on Jane’s shoulder. It took me a moment to get her attention.
“Jane? Are you staying?” I asked her. “I’ll go grab your coffee and bring it back if you are.”
“That would be wonderful,” Jane replied, barely looking away from Charles. “Thank you.”
I went over and picked up the three drinks and brought them back over to the table. I set Jane’s down beside her, and she looked up at me with a giant grin.
“Charles has invited us out tonight,” Jane explained. “To Lux. The new dance club.”
“I thought that place was impossible to get into right now,” I replied. Lux was the hottest new dance scene in the city.
“I own it,” Charles explained. “Well, partial owner. I need to make an appearance, and it would be wonderful to have you. Bring your sister if you’d like. William and I need beautiful women on our arms.”